Recognized as one of Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Mar 31, 2025)
Here are some of the reasons why Horizon Health Network was selected as one of Atlantic Canada's Top Employers (2025):
- Horizon Health Network supports employees through mentoring and leadership development programs for those looking to build new skills and advance their careers -- the organization also offers subsidies for tuition and professional accreditations
- Horizon Health Network helps employees plan for the future with contributions to a defined contribution pension plan and phased-in work options that allow employees nearing retirement to gradually reduce their work hours
- Horizon Health Network supports its new and adoptive mothers with maternity leave top-up payments to 75 per cent of salary for up to 16 weeks, varying by employee group
Fulfilling a promise: How Horizon puts people first
As one of New Brunswick’s largest employers and the second-largest health authority in Atlantic Canada, Horizon Health Network is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to improving the experience of its workforce of more than 14,000.
“Similar to other health authorities, we’re encountering many challenges that impact our staff and physicians, including global competition for talent and our aging population,” says Gail Lebel, vice president and chief human resource officer. “Addressing these challenges and prioritizing our workforce’s health and well-being is essential to achieving our mission of providing exceptional care to every patient, every day. Our people are at the core of everything we do, and we must take care of those who take care of New Brunswickers.”
After surveying and hosting listening sessions with its workforce, including more than 1,235 physicians in 12 hospitals and 100 medical facilities, clinics and offices across New Brunswick, Horizon is continuing to grow its signature retention and engagement program, Our Promise.
Now in its second year, Our Promise has introduced more than 30 initiatives within four focus areas: Listen and Act; Recognize and Appreciate; Health, Safety and Belonging; and Learning and Development. Several new programs to improve the staff and physician experience include a dedicated child-care pilot program in two urban centres and new settlement support services to help international employees safely settle in New Brunswick.
“We are always seeking new and innovative ways to foster the health, safety and well-being of our team,” says Lebel. “It starts with listening and acting on feedback and measuring each project to ensure it’s achieving the desired results. Whether introducing child-care services or supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Pride events, it’s important that everyone feels they belong and are valued at Horizon.”
Emma Vibert, a nurse manager in geriatric medicine at The Moncton Hospital, appreciates Horizon’s focus on continuous improvement, as well as the open-door policy of the organization’s leaders. “When I go to my managers with an idea, they say, ‘Show me how to do it,’” she says. “And if you reach out to senior leaders, they are very willing to listen to your ideas and feedback.”
Additional examples of innovative initiatives already making a difference in the workplace include implementing patient self-booking of X-rays and lab services, developing an education placement platform to support educational placement coordination, and introducing customized diversity, equity and inclusion education across the organization.
Horizon also offers smaller but meaningful gestures that focus on employee well-being, such as the Hug in a Box initiative, designed for those who have experienced a traumatic event. The boxes contain healthy snacks, mints, gum, teas, stickers, notepads and other items to foster a sense of comfort and connection. There’s also information on meditation, breathing techniques, mental health supports and best practices in traumatic stress exposure.
As part of Horizon’s ongoing recruitment of nursing staff, allied health professionals and physicians, new hires have been welcomed from all over the world. Vibert manages a team of 45 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal care assistants from across Canada and international markets such as India, Nigeria, Israel and the Philippines. “The diverse backgrounds of our team members translate into diversity of thoughts and ideas, which strengthens our approach to patient care,” she says.
Horizon also recognizes the importance of helping employees advance their careers through continuous learning via online courses as well as attracting the next generation of employees. Its career engagement platform for secondary and post-secondary students, called Promote150, has generated awareness of more than 150 career opportunities.
“Nurturing career advancement and growth is crucial for our current and prospective workforce so we can continue to provide the very best care to patients,” says Lebel.
